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‘Wisconsin Life’ season finale premieres Jan. 16 – read a Q&A with ‘Moms Don’t Cry’ animation director Ellie Nikoo
January 13, 2025 Leave a Comment
Madison storyteller Takeyla Benton shares how she balances being strong for her children with the emotional cost of hiding her vulnerability in “Moms Don’t Cry,” an animated segment in the season finale of Wisconsin Life airing 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, on PBS Wisconsin.
Benton realizes that her determination to appear strong might have led her children to believe that showing emotions is unacceptable, prompting her to reconsider how she expresses her feelings in front of them.
PBS Wisconsin spoke with Wisconsin Life animation director Ellie Nikoo in anticipation of the segment’s premiere.
PBS Wisconsin: Can you describe your creative process while producing the “Moms Don’t Cry” segment?
Ellie Nikoo: Producing an animation like “Moms Don’t Cry” involved several key steps — research, defining the art and animation style, character design and storyboarding.
During the storyboarding phase, I would reach out to the subject for their feedback on character representation and story depiction. Once their input is incorporated, the animation progresses to the production phase, which primarily involves animating and designing backgrounds, thanks to help from illustration intern Nova Fernandez.
PBS Wisconsin: What was your experience like collaborating with the subject of the piece, Takeyla Benton?
Nikoo: Takeyla Benton graciously shared images with me from her family and home that inspired the character and background design. Her input proved to be invaluable throughout the process. Working with her was not only a joy, but also contributed significantly to the authenticity and depth of the final animation.
PBS Wisconsin: What excited or inspired you the most while working on this project?
Nikoo: What truly excites me about this project is the profound message conveyed by Takeyla’s story — the importance of embracing vulnerability and authentically expressing emotions with loved ones. I also enjoyed the frame-by-frame animation style. It gave me the opportunity to portray the range of characters’ emotions, bring Takeyla’s humor into the piece and breathe life into the narrative.
PBS Wisconsin: What will viewers take away after watching?
Nikoo: I hope viewers experience the same blend of humor and emotional gravity within the narrative that resonated with me. I also wish for them to know that if they struggle with sharing their vulnerabilities with loved ones — sad moments or otherwise — they are not alone. My hope is that the piece empowers viewers to find the courage to open up and share their authentic emotions with those closest to them.
Watch the complete segment at pbswisconsin.org/wilife!
